Wireless hotspot arrangement

ABSTRACT

A hot spot system for permitting wireless communication for a wide variety of various manufacturers different wireless personal communication devices in an rf restricted environment, wherein the different wireless personal communication devices each have a radiative antenna, and wherein the hot spot system is arranged to permit wireless, controlled communication between a wide variety of various manufacturers of different personal communication devices located within the rf restricted environment and other communication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a docking system for handheld electroniccommunication devices such as cellular telephones or the like, for usewith structures or vehicles, and this application is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/218,324, filed Jul. 14, 2008, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,881,664, issued Feb. 1, 2011, and is a division of U.S.application Ser. No. 12/931,661 filed Feb. 7, 2011, which is acontinuation of application Ser. No. 12/378,452 filed Feb. 13, 2009, nowU.S. Pat. No. 7,904,124, issued Mar. 8, 2011, and is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/020,450, filed Dec. 22, 2004, issuedon Jul. 15, 2008 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,400,858, and patent application Ser.No. 11/728,487 filed Mar. 26, 2007, which is a continuation of Ser. No.10/619,770 filed Jul. 15, 2003, now U.S. Pat. No. 7,197,285, which areeach a continuation applications of Ser. No. 09/634,140, filed Aug. 8,2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,885,845, which is a continuation of Ser. No.08/604,105, filed Feb. 20, 1996, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,471, each ofwhich, their U.S. Patent Office and U.S. Federal District Court recordsand file histories, are all incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Prior Art

Extraneous radio frequency emission has become a serious concern ofhand-held electronic communication devices such as portable facsimilemachines, ground position indicators, and cellular telephonemanufacturers and users alike. RF radiation is considered a potentialcarcinogen.

The proliferation of these hand-held devices is evident everywhere. Asingle hand-held device however, should able to travel with its ownerand be easily transferably usable in automobiles, planes, cabs orbuildings (including hospitals) as well as at offices and at desks withno restrictions on their use, and without causing concern with regard tothe radiation therefrom. The hand-held devices should be portable for auser to carry in his pocket, yet be able to use that same cellular unitin such vehicle or building while minimizing such radiational effecttherein.

It is an object of the present invention to permit a user of a portablehand-held electronic communication device such as a cellular telephoneor the like, to conveniently use that same hand-held device/cellularphone in an automobile, plane or building, office/desk, or anywheresignal transmission is needed, and to permit such signal to reach itsintended destination such as a communications network or satellite,without interfering with other electrical equipment and in spite ofinterfering walls of buildings or structure and/or other electricalequipment.

It is a further object of the present invention to minimize anyradiation from such a portable device, such as a cellular telephone orthe like, while such use occurs in an automobile, a building or anelevator, an airplane, a cab, or other public facility in which the userwishes to minimize his own exposure to stray radiation, and also topermit re-transmission of his signal, to avoid the necessity ofconnecting and disconnecting cables, and to permit a wide variety ofcellular telephones such as would be utilized in a rental car wherevarious manufactures' phones would be used, and to permit control ofsuch re-transmission of signals where desired, so as to allowuser/customer billing and monitoring thereof.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a docking system adaptable to anautomobile, plane, building or desk for receipt of an electroniccommunication device such as a cellular telephone, portable computer,facsimile machine, pager or the like, to permit a user safe,environmentally safe, non-touching, radiationally communicative matingof the antenna of that device to a further transmission line through ajuxtaposed pick-up probe, the signal coming in or going out through acommunications network or further remote antenna.

The docking system may comprise a “zone” or “focal area” as a generallyrectilinear area/volume on/in a desk or work surface on/in which theelectronic communication device may be placed, such a surface or spacebeing possible on a desk, or in a plane. That focal area may also, in afurther embodiment, be comprised of one or more rooms in a building,such focal area having a pick-up probe thereat, in conjunction with ashield placed on/in the desk, room, vehicle or building to prevent theradiation from that communication device from traveling in any undesireddirections within the desk, room, vehicle or building.

The focal area may be defined by a metal walled structure within or onwhich a broadband probe is arranged. The metal walled structure acts asa shield to minimize radiation from the communication device frompassing therethrough. In a first embodiment, the shield may be comprisedof a partial housing disposed within the upper work surface of a desk.The probe would be elongatively disposed within the partial housing andbe in electrical communication with a transmission line such as coaxcable, waveguide, or the like. The partial housing may have a planardielectric layer thereover, which would also be co-planar with thesurface of the desk. The communication device would be placed within thepickup zone of the focal area, and would be able to transmit and receivesignals through the dielectric layer. The partial housing would act asthe shield in the desk, to minimize radiation by the worker at the desk.In a further embodiment, the housing may be comprised of a thin,generally planar mat of conductive material, which mat may be flexibleand distortable, for conformance to a particular work surface and forease of storage capabilities. The mat has an upper layer of dielectricmaterial (for example, plastic, foam or the like). A thin, flat,conformable coupling probe may be embedded into or printed onto theupper surface of the dielectric material. The mat may be utilized as aportable focal area for placement of a communication device thereon, orwrapped up in an enveloping manner therein.

A yet further embodiment of the present invention includes a controlunit in the transmission line from the pickup probe to the furtherremote antenna. The control unit may comprise a filter or switchconnected to a computer. The computer may accumulate billinginformation, control system functions, or act as a regulator formultiple users of the antenna coupling system.

The invention thus comprises a docking system for connecting a portablecommunication device to a further signal transmission line, the portablecommunication device having an externally radiative antenna, the systemcomprising a shield for restricting at least a portion of any radiationfrom the externally radiative antenna of said portable communicationdevice, and a coupling probe mounted adjacent to the shield forradiatively coupling between the externally radiative antenna of theportable communication device and the further signal transmission linevia radio frequency energy therebetween. The shield may be comprised ofan electrically conductive material, or an attenuative material capableof blocking at least part of the radiofrequency radiation energy comingfrom the communication device(s) connected thereto. The shield defines afocal area for receipt and transmission of a radio frequency signal,when a communication device is placed within the focal area. The focalarea or zone, may be selected from the group of structures consisting ofa desk, a room in a building, or a tray or the like in a vehicle. Thefurther signal transmission line may be connected to a furthercommunication network and/or a further antenna connected to thetransmission line, yet positioned at a location remote from the shield.The transmission line may have a control unit therein, the control unitbeing arranged to permit regulation of signals being transmitted throughthe transmission line. The control unit may comprise a computer arrangedto monitor time or use of the docking system. The shield and the probemay be spaced apart by a dielectric material. The shield, the probe andthe dielectric material may be flexible. The communication device mayinclude at least two cellular telephones (or other portablecommunication devices) simultaneously connected to the remote antenna.

The invention also includes a method of coupling a portablecommunication device having an externally radiative antenna, to a signaltransmission line having a further remote antenna thereon, for thepurpose of effecting radio signal transmission therebetween, the methodcomprising the steps of arranging a radiation shield in juxtapositionwith at least a portion of said radiative antenna of the portablecommunication device, mounting a coupling probe adjacent the shield andin communication with the signal transmission line, and placing theexternally radiative antenna of the portable communication device closeto the probe and the shield so as to permit radiative communicationbetween the externally radiative antenna and the signal transmissionline via the coupling probe. The method may include arranging the shieldin or on a generally planar work surface so as to restrict thepropagation of at least a portion of the radiation emanating from thecommunication device primarily only to the vicinity of the probe. Themethod may include attaching a control unit to the transmission line topermit regulation of electric signals therethrough, and adding a furthercommunication device in juxtaposition with a further probe, the furtherprobe also being in electronic communication with that control unit, soas to permit multiple simultaneous use of the transmission line andcommunication system and/or remote antenna therewith. The method ofcoupling the portable communication device to the signal transmissionline, may also include the step of billing any users of thecommunication and/or remote antenna by monitoring and tabulating anysignals received by and sent through the control unit.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a shielded antennadocking arrangement, which itself may be portable, for use with aportable communication device such as a cellular telephone, facsimilemachine or ground position indicator or the like, such use occurring ina vehicle such as a plane, an automobile or a cab or in a public orprivate building, office desk or elevator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the present invention will become moreapparent when viewed in conjunction with the following drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 a is a perspective view of a focal area docking arrangement, asmay be utilized with a desk;

FIG. 1 b is a partial view taken along the lines A-A of FIG. 1 a;

FIG. 2 a is a perspective view of a portable focal area docking systemfor portable communication devices;

FIG. 2 b is a view taken along the lines B-B of FIG. 2 a;

FIG. 3 a is a block diagram of a docking system having a sensor unitarranged therewith;

FIG. 3 b is a block diagram of a further embodiment of that shown inFIG. 3 a; and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a docking system, as it may beutilized in a vehicle.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the drawings in detail, and particularly to FIG. 1 a,there is shown a portable communication device docking arrangement 10,to permit a portable communication device such as a hand-held cellulartelephone 12 to be utilized thereon, such as on a desk 14 or adjacent toit, and as a personal communicator (i.e. cellular telephone, facsimilemachine, pager or the like) which may also be carried on an individual.

Such a docking system 10 of the present invention may also be adaptableto an automobile, plane, or building for providing radiationallyrestrictive communication between a portable electronic communicationdevice 12 such as a cellular telephone, portable computer, facsimilemachine, pager, or the like, while allowing communicative mating of theradiative antenna of that device to a further transmission line andcommunication system and/or a more remote antenna, as recited and shownin our aforementioned patent applications, incorporated herein byreference in their entirety.

The docking system 10 may comprise a “zone” or “focal area” 16 as arectilinear area/volume on/in a desk 14 or work surface on/in which theelectronic communication device 12 may be placed, such a surface orspace being in a structure such as an airplane. That focal area 16 has apick-up coupling probe 22 thereat, as shown for example in FIG. 1 b, inconjunction with a shield 24 placed on/in the desk 14, (or room, vehicleor building, as shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b), to prevent the radiation(electromagnetic/microwave) emanating from that communication device 12from traveling in any undesired directions within the desk, room,vehicle or building.

The focal area 16 may be defined by a metal walled housing structure 30within which a broadband probe 22 is arranged, as shown in FIG. 1 b. Themetal walled structure 30 acts as a shield to minimize undesiredradiation from the communication device 12 from passing therethrough. Ina first embodiment, the shield may be comprised of a partial housing 34disposed within the upper work surface 36 of a desk 14, as may be seenin FIG. 1 b. The pick-up probe 22 would be elongatively disposed withinthe partial housing structure 30 and be in electrical communication witha transmission line 32 such as coaxial cable, waveguide, or the like.The transmission line 32 would be in electrical communication with anelectric communications network or distribution system 38, and/or to afurther remote antenna 40, such as may be seen in FIGS. 1 b, 3 a and 3b. The partial housing 30 may have a planar dielectric layer 42thereover, which would also be co-planar with the surface of the desk14. The communication device 12 would be placed within the pickup zoneof the focal area 16, and would be able to transmit and receive signalsthrough the dielectric layer 42. The partial housing 30 would act as theshield in the desk, to minimize radiation directed towards the worker(s)at the desk.

In a further embodiment as shown in FIG. 2 a, the shield or housing maybe comprised of a thin, generally planar mat 50 of conductive material,which mat 50 may be flexible and distortable, for conformance to anysurface (human or otherwise), and may be folded or rolled up to minimizestorage requirements. The mat 50 has an upper layer 52 made of adielectric material (plastic, foam or the like). A thin, flat,conformable coupling probe 54 is embedded into or printed onto the uppersurface of the layer of dielectric material 52. The mat 50 may beutilized as a portable focal area for placement of a communicationdevice thereon, or wrapped-up in an enveloping manner therein. The probe54 is connected to a transmission line 56, in electrical contact with anetwork or remote antenna, not shown in this figure.

A yet further embodiment of the present invention includes a controlunit 60, connected into the transmission line 62 from the pickup probe64 to the further remote antenna 66 shown in FIGS. 3 a and 3 b. Thecontrol unit 60 may comprise a filter, switch, amplifier, attenuator,combiner, splitter, or other type of frequency converter, connected to acomputer 68. The computer 68 may be arranged to accumulate customer orbilling information by functioning with a processor to print outuse-data 69, to maintain frequency control functions, or to act as aregulator for multiple users of the antenna coupling system 10. Theremay be a plurality of pickup coupling probes 64 each connected to thecontrol unit 60 and the transmission line 62, one probe 64 in each of aplurality of shielded rooms 65, each wall or work area (desk) having ashield, the rooms 65 shown in a building 67, in FIG. 3 b.

The view shown in FIG. 4, displays a portable communication device suchas a facsimile machine or computer 70 supported on a tray 72 articulablymounted on the back of an airplane seat 74. The tray 72 has a “focalarea” 75 therewithin, as represented by the dashed lines 76. The focalarea 75 includes a conductive (preferably metallic) shield arrangedbeneath and partially surrounding a broadband probe 77. The probe 77transmits electrical signals radiated to and from a radiative antenna onor in the base of the portable communication device 70. A transmissionline 78 which may be comprised of coaxial cable, waveguide, or opticalfibers, extends from the probe within the focal area, to a furtherremote antenna 80 mounted outside of the structure, which here, isidentified as an airplane.

A control unit 82, such as attenuators, heterodyne converters,amplifiers, bandpass filters, switches, or the like, may be arranged incommunication with the transmission line 78 to monitor or control thetime in the vehicle in which the communication device may be utilized,for example, to limit certain times when such devices may be utilized inan airplane, or to modulate the signal being transmitted or received bythe remote antenna, and/or to monitor usage of the docking system forsubsequent billing of those users.

Thus what has been shown is a unique system for minimizing thedetrimental effects of radiation from common portable communicationdevices to their users, while improving the transmission capabilitiesand customer usage of such devices, overcoming the barriers such asbuildings and vehicles in which such devices might otherwise beutilized, that would interfere with the flow of signals transmitted.

1. A hot spot system for permitting wireless communication for a widevariety of various manufacturers different wireless personalcommunication devices in an rf restricted environment, the differentwireless personal communication devices each having a radiative antenna,wherein the hot spot system is arranged to permit wireless, controlledcommunication between a wide variety of various manufacturers ofdifferent personal communication devices located within the rfrestricted environment and other communication devices located outsideof the rf restricted environment, the hot spot system comprising: atleast one first antennae arranged as part of the system within the rfrestricted environment, the at least one first antenna arranged tocommunicate wirelessly with the radiative antennae of any of a widevariety of different manufacturers wide variety of wireless personalcommunication devices being communicatively utilized within the rfrestricted environment; at least one signal transmission line comprisingpart of the system, the at least one signal transmission line arrangedto communicate outside of the rf restricted environment with othercommunication devices located outside of the rf restricted environment;a monitoring, signal amplification effecting and control computercomprising part of the system, the monitoring, signal amplificationeffecting and control computer being arranged in a communications linkbetween the at least one first antennae within the rf restrictedenvironment and the at least one signal transmission line arranged tocommunicate outside of the rf restricted environment, the monitoring,signal amplification effecting and control computer arranged to monitorand control use of a wide variety of various manufacturers differentwireless personal communication devices utilized within the rfrestricted environment, and to permit multiple simultaneous controlled,monitored use of various manufacturers wide variety of differentwireless personal communication devices utilized within the rfrestricted environment and other communication devices located outsideof the rf restricted environment.
 2. The hot spot system as recited inclaim 1, where the monitoring, signal amplification effecting andcontrol computer is arranged to control electronic signal amplificationand the amount of time any various manufacturers different wirelesspersonal communication devices may be utilized to communicate fromwithin the rf restricted environment, with any other communicationdevices located outside of the rf restricted environment.
 3. The hotspot system as recited in claim 1, where the monitoring and controlcomputer operates to monitor and bill for costs of utilizing any variousmanufacturers different wireless personal communication device withinthe rf restricted environment.
 4. The hot spot system as recited inclaim 1, where the at least one outside transmission line comprises afurther antenna which is arranged to communicate wirelessly with othercommunication devices outside of the rf restricted environment.
 5. Thehot spot system as recited in claim 4, wherein the further antennacomprises a satellite communication antenna.
 6. A communication systemcomprising: at least one first RF antenna arranged for use in anautomobile to transmit and receive RF signals to and from one or morevarious manufacturers different personal electronic communicationdevices utilized within the automobile; at least one second RF antennaarranged for use with an automobile to transmit and receive RF signalsto and from a communications network outside of an automobile; at leastone transmission line arranged to couple the signals between the firstRF antenna and the second RF antenna; and a monitor and control computerarranged in communication with the transmission line to monitor, controland affect amplification of an RF signal sent to or sent by the variousdevices utilized in an automobile in which any various manufacturersdifferent personal electronic communication devices are utilized tocommunicate with a communication network outside of the automobile inwhich the system is utilized.
 7. The communication system of claim 6,wherein the control computer controls the time in the automobile inwhich the electronic communication devices may be utilized by limitingthe times when the electronic communication devices may communicate withthe communications network.
 8. The communication system of claim 6,wherein the control computer is further arranged to simultaneouslyregulate multiple in-automobile users of the communication system. 9.The communication system of claim 6, where the communications networkcomprises a satellite.
 10. The communication system of claim 6, furthercomprising an RF signal shield to minimize radiation from any variouspersonal electronic communication device from traveling in an undesireddirection.
 11. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the controlcomputer is further arranged to limit certain times when such devicesmay be utilized to times when the devices are authorized for use in theautomobile.
 12. The communication system of claim 11, wherein thecontrol computer modulates RF signals between a first and a secondfrequency bands as the signals travel between the first and second RFantennae.
 13. The communication system of claim 6, wherein the firstantenna transmits and receives RF signals in a first frequency band andthe second RF antenna transmits and receives signals in a secondfrequency band.
 14. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim13, wherein the monitor and control computer includes an RF signalfilter to filter RF signals sent to and from any such personalcommunication device utilized within the zone.
 15. A mobile WiFi hotspot system arranged to facilitate communication and permit wireless,simultaneously controlled communication between a wide variety ofdifferent manufacturers different personal communication devicesutilized within a focal zone and other communication entities locatedoutside of the zone, any such personal communication devices in the zonehaving a radiative antenna, the mobile system comprising: at least onefirst antenna arranged within the zone, the first antenna being arrangedto communicate wirelessly with the radiative antennae of any of suchwide variety of different manufacturers different wireless personalcommunications devices being communicatively utilized within the zone;at least one signal transmission line arranged to communicate betweenthe at least one first antenna within the zone and a furthertransmission member therewith, for communication with communicationentities located outside of the zone; and a monitor and control computerarranged in the signal transmission line between the least one firstantenna within the zone and the further transmission member arranged tocommunicate with communication entities outside of the zone, the monitorand control computer arrangement being arranged to simultaneouslymonitor and control RF signals sent by or sent to any of the widevariety of different manufacturers different wireless personalcommunication devices utilized wirelessly within the zone.
 16. Themobile WiFi hotspot system as recited in claim 15 wherein the furthertransmission member comprises a further radiative antenna.
 17. Themobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 15, wherein the zonecomprises an rf restricted environment.
 18. The mobile WiFi hot spotsystem as recited in claim 15, wherein the zone is selected from thegroup consisting of: a vehicle, a building, an elevator, an automobile,a surface, a flexible mat, a cab, a hospital, a space, a rectilineararea/volume, an RF restricted area and anywhere signal transmission isneeded.
 19. The mobile WiFi hot spot system as recited in claim 15,which system includes a personal communication device selected from thegroup consisting of: a laptop computer, a cell phone, a ground positionindicating device and a facsimile machine.
 20. The mobile WiFi hot spotsystem as recited in claim 15, wherein the monitor and control computeris arranged to control amplification of any RF signals sent to or fromany such personal communication device utilized within the zone.
 21. Amethod of enabling the use and billing for such use of any of variousmanufacturers wide variety of different personal wireless communicationdevices in a zone, by a hot spot system, wherein the method for such hotspot system comprises: arranging a monitor, amplification and controlcomputer in the zone, the monitor, amplification and control computerarranged to monitor, effect amplification of, and control wirelesssignals of any of various manufacturers wide variety of differentpersonal communication devices utilized within the zone, and to effectbilling of any of a wide variety of different manufacturers variousdifferent personal communication devices utilized within the zone,wherein the monitor, amplification and control computer is in electroniccommunication with the system's at least one first antenna arrangedwithin the zone, the at least one first antenna arranged to transmitwireless RF signals to and from any of the wide variety of differentmanufacturers various personal communication devices utilized within thezone and the monitor, amplification and control computer, wherein themonitor, amplification and control computer is also in electroniccommunication with a signal transmission line arranged to send andreceive RF signals to and from the monitor, amplification and controlcomputer arranged within the zone and communication devices arrangedoutside of the zone.
 22. The method as recited in claim 21, including:billing for any use of any of the various manufacturers wide variety ofdifferent personal communication devices within the zone.
 23. The methodas recited in claim 22, including: controlling, effecting change inamplification and monitoring of at least two personal communicationdevices utilized simultaneously within the zone, by the monitor,amplification and control computer.